Converting ocean energy into electrical energy using bourdon tubes and cartesian divers

ABSTRACT

A system for converting the kinetic energy of waves and tides of the ocean into electrical energy. A pipe is laid from the ocean bottom onto the shore. This pipe is closed on its shore based end so as waves and tides change the length of the water column over the pipe&#39;s seaward end pressure variations are transmitted to the shore based pipe end. If the shore based end is configured as a Bourdon tube or Cartesian Diver then the elastic energy of the pipe material may be converted into kinetic energy. With suitable conversion devices this kinetic energy may be converted into electrical energy. The pipe&#39;s seaward end is in several preferred embodiments configured to collect the energy and force of deep water surface waves and internal waves and likewise transfer this energy and force ashore without the use of electric cables or flowing fluids.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to devices for generating electricity from the various motions of the oceans, particularly surface waves, internal waves, and tides.

[0003] 2. The Basic Physics of the Invention

[0004] This can be illustrated with a liquid barometer, but more particularly see FIG. 1. Here, a pipe 1 is laid so one end is sunk to the bottom offshore and the other end is laid down ashore. The sunken end is open and the end ashore is closed. The whole pipe is water-filled and assuming the end ashore is not 34 ft. above the waterline the water will not drain out since air pressure on the ocean surface will support a maximum 34 ft. water column. If then the water column above the sunken pipe end is made to vary by the passage of surface waves for example, the pressure of the water within the pipe ashore is also made to vary. As stated, the pipe end ashore is closed, so if the pipe wall ashore is made flexible it will expand and contract depending on the pressure fluctuations within the pipe. The flexible wall may be formed as a Bourdon tube or as part of a Cartesian Diver. Thus the changing potential energy as expressed as pressure energy of the working fluid within the pipe and the elastic energy of part of the pipe wall may be converted into kinetic energy. I know of no antecedants in the field of this invention.

[0005] Reference is made to my Disclosure Doc.#515689.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The basic idea of the invention may be applied to extract the ocean energy of surface waves of the surf zone and further out as well as tides and internal waves. This energy may be extracted and converted to electrical energy in several ways. There are eight preferred embodiments:

[0007] 1. The pipe is extended into the ocean no further than the surf zone, laid on the ocean bottom. Ashore the pipe end terminates in a Bourdon tube configured to operate a gear transmission so that whether the Bourdon tube is made to flex or relax the gears operate a driveshaft in one direction only. This driveshaft is made to operate an induction generator.

[0008] 2. As in preferred embodiment 1, except the pipe is extended beyond the surf zone. Here the water column over the sunken end of the pipe is made to vary only by tidal action so to convert the same amount of energy as in the first preferred embodiment the pipe and Bourdon tube must be larger.

[0009] 3. As in preferred embodiment 1, but instead of a Bourdon tube the pipe end is made to end as a Cartesian Diver which is located in a surrounding closed tank of water. The rise and fall of the Diver is made to operate a gear transmission and induction generator as described above.

[0010] 4. As in preferred embodiment 2 but utilizing a Cartesian Diver as in preferred embodiment 3.

[0011] 5. The pipe is extended far offshore with a Bourdon tube used ashore. The offshore end of the pipe ends within a large neutrally buoyant cylinder with flexible walls mounted within a sleeve so as internal waves impact the cylinder the cylinder tends to rise and fall. The cylinder is configured to act as a piston, alternately compressing and decompressing the water in the pipe and operating the Bourdon tube and generator as already noted.

[0012] 6. As in preferred embodiment 5 but substituting a Cartesian Diver for a Bourdon tube.

[0013] 7. As in preferred embodiment 5 but the cylinder is configured to ride surface waves instead of internal waves.

[0014] 8. As in preferred embodiment 7 but substituting a Cartesian Diver for a Bourdon tube ashore.

[0015] In all the preferred embodiments if the shore based devices are located below 34 ft. above any sea level the working fluid may be water. This entails substantially no water transfer through the pipe and no consequent friction loss.

[0016] If the shore based devices are located above 34 ft. above any sea level-then the working fluid in the pipe above sea level should be air. This will entail some water transfer through the pipe.

[0017] Accordingly it is a principle object of the invention to eliminate the need for complicated and expensive electrical equipment offshore.

[0018] Another allied object of the invention is to eliminate the need for laying electric cable on the ocean floor.

[0019] Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the study of the following portion of the specification, the claims and the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 shows a side view of a pipe laid according to the basic idea of the invention.

[0021]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a pipe laid to transfer tidal energy to shore.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of pipe laid in two preferred ways to transfer surface wave energy in the surf zone to shore.

[0023]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing how energy in the pipe may be converted into electrical energy useing a Bourdon tube.

[0024]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing how energy in the pipe may be converted into electrical energy using a Cartesian Diver.

[0025]FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of an offshore structure configured to convert the energy of internal waves of the ocean into fluctuating force according to the invention.

[0026]FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of an offshore structure configured to convert offshore surface wave energy into fluctuating force according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Turning to FIG. 3 we see an ocean shoreline with a marked surf zone. Pipe 1 ends in the surf zone with the other end ashore. The sunken end is open. Alternatively, pipe 1 a ends beyond the surf zone with the sunken end closed. There is a hole in the |pipe within the surf zone. Pipes 1, 1 a sunken openings are widened in a parallel direction to an expected wave front to increase the force input of the invention.

[0028] In FIG. 4 we see the shore end of pipes 1, 1 a made to open into the fixed end of Bourdon tube 3. The moveable end of Bourdon tube 3 is fixed to spur gear 5 axially mounted on shaft 4 and supported by supports 2. Meshing with gear 5 is gear 7 mounted on driveshaft 14. Pawl 9 is operatively attached to gear 7. Ratchet 8 is fixed to shaft 14. Supports 2 also support shaft 10. Gear 11 with operatively attached pawl 9 a is mounted on shaft 10. Ratchet 8 a is fixedly attached to shaft 10. Ratchet 8 a and pawl 9 a are set to be made to operate in the opposite direction from ratchet 8 and pawl 9 operatively attached to gear 5. Axially attached to driveshaft 14 is gear 12 which is located to mesh with gear 13 which is axially attached to shaft 10.

[0029] In operation Bourdon tube may be filled with air or, if Bourdon tube is less than 34 ft. above sea level, seawater. Pipe 1 a may prove to be more advantageous to the user since the sunken end would be located in a more stable environment than the surf zone and be easier to stabilize. In any case as waves move toward the shoreline pressure in pipe 1 or 1 a is made to vary since the water column over the sunken hole of pipe 1 or 1 a varies in height. Consequently Bourdon tube 3 is made to flex and relax, rotating gear 5 back and forth. Due to the aforementioned system of gears 5, 7, 12, 13 and ratchets 8, 8 a and pawls 9, 9 a driveshaft 14 is made to rotate in only one direction regardless of the direction gear 5 is made to rotate. Driveshaft 14 thus is made to operate induction generator 16.

[0030] In the second preferred embodiment as seen in FIG. 2 we see pipe 1 extended beyond the surf zone and open at its end.

[0031] In operation only the tidal action will vary the pressure within pipe 1.

[0032] In the third preferred embodiment we turn to FIGS. 3, 5. Here pipes 1 or 1 a opens into piston container 27, ashore and extensi 21 whch is closed on top. Pipes 1 or 1 a and container 27, extension 21 form a closed pocket which may be full of water. Piston 17 within container 27 is hollow and has walls with windows 18 of a flexible material. There is some air within piston 17 for buoyancy. Piston 17 may be considered a Cartesian Diver. The height of container 27 is at least the sum of the tide range, possible height of ocean waves over the sunken end of pipe 1 or 1 a and the height of piston 17. The height of container extension 21 is the same as container 27. The diameter of piston 17 is somewhat smaller than that of container 27. Rai 19 extend the height of container 27 and there are at least three rails 19 with rollers 20 located to center piston 17 within container 27. Affixed to piston 17 top plate is gear rack 22 which is enclosed by extension 21. Also in extension 21 is a pinion gear 23 which is located to mesh with rack 22 and is axially fixed to the wall of extension 21. Shaft 24 operably connects gear 23 and gearbox 25. Inside gearbox 25 is a gear mechanism able to convert the reciprocal movement of rack 22 into unidirectional motion of driveshaft 26. Shaft 24 is sealed through the wall of extension 21 so fluid does not leak out. Gear box 25 is operably connected to drive generator 16 through shaft 26.

[0033] In operation pressure fluctuations in pipe 1 or 1 a cause piston 17 to move up and down operating the generator 16 through the agency of items 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26. Pipe 1, or 1 a above sea level may be filled with air at one atmosphere and container 27 only partly filled with water so piston 17 floats within container 17.

[0034] In the fourth preffered embodiment we turn to FIGS. 2, 5. This embodiment is like embodiment 2 but instead of a Bourdon tube as in FIG. 4 there is substituted the arrangement of FIG. 5.

[0035] For the fifth preferred embodiment we turn to FIGS. 4 and 6. Here we see pipe 1 extended to an offshore submerged structure. There is shown a base 29 firmly fixed to the ocean floor. Mounted on base 29 is piston sleeve 33.

[0036] Cylinder 31, contains an air bubble making it neutrally buoyant when the water density is average for the selected location where the device is installed. In the midzone of the outer wall of cylinder 31 wall are windows 36 covered with a flexible material so external density changes of the ocean are transmitted to the water within cylinder 31. Ball bearings 35 are attached to piston sleeve 33 and are made to roll on the vertical surface of cylinder 31. The bottom surface of cylinder 31 is configured as piston 41 with an O-ring around its rim 40.

[0037] In operation, passing internal waves cause the seawater surrounding cylinder 31 to fluctuate. This causes cylinder 31 to act as a Cartesian Diver. Increasing density of the seawater causes the flexible material in windows 36 to be pushed in. This causes the air bubble in cylinder 31 to decrease in volume, causing cylinder 31 to tend to fall. Since piston sleeve 33 is full of water then the water in pipe 1 and the working fluid in Bourdon tube 3 (which may be water or air) to compress. Bourdon tube 3 will then flex and operate induction generator 16. Contrarily, decreasing density of seawater surrounding cylinder 31 causes the cylinder to tend to rise, reducing the pressure in pipe 1 and Bourdon tube 3. This also causes Bourdon tube 3 to operate induction generator.

[0038] Compression of seawater takes a great deal of weight per unit volume so the actual movement of cylinder 31 may only be a short distance. But wide fluctuations of pressure can be transmitted to shore where through the agency of Bourdon tube 3 elastic potential energy may be converted into kinetic energy to operate induction generator 16.

[0039] The sixth preferred embodiment is different from the fifth in that a Cartesian Diver as in FIG. 5 is used instead of the Bourdon Tube 3 Here again pressure energy in the form of elastic potential energy of the flexible material of windows 18 is converted into the kinetic energy of the Diver 17.

[0040] The seventh preferred embodiment concerns the conversion of offshore surface wave energy into electrical energy. Turning to FIGS. 4, 7 we see an offshore structure much like that of the sixth preferred embodiment. There is shown a base 29 firmly fixed to the ocean floor, anchoring piston sleeve 28 and containing piston 41 with attendant O-ring 40 between the rim of piston 41 and piston sleeve 28. Fixedly attached to the top of piston 41 is cylinder 31 which is buoyant and weighted to float on the ocean surface. Struts 30 are made to extend from the rigid wall of cylinder 31 horizontally and are stiffened by standing rigging 33 which is anchored to top and bottom portions of the vertical wall of cylinder 31 to stiffen the wall.

[0041] In operation, surface waves cause buoyant cylinder 31 to tend to move up and down. Moved downwards, pressure in pipe 1 is increased as piston 41 is made to tend to move downwards. If cylinder 31 is made to tend to move upwards pressure in pipe 1 is decreased. This reciprocal action operates electric generator 16 ashore. Movement of cylinder 31 will be minimal. Only the weight on the working fluid in pipe 1 is made to fluctuate.

[0042] The eighth preferred embodiment is like the seventh but the onshore energy conversion system comprises the system shown in FIG. 5 rather than FIG. 4. A Cartesian Diver is used instead of a Bourdon tube.

[0043] From the above description it is apparent that the preferred embodiments achieve the objects of the present invention. Alternative embodiments and various modifications of the depicted embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts. These and other alternatives are considered to be equivalent and within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A system for converting the kinetic energy of the ocean into electrical energy comprising a force collecting means whose first end is at the bottom of the ocean and whose second end is connected to energy converting means ashore so as kinetic energy in the ocean is made to vary the pressure of the water column over said first end, then varying potential energy is sent through said force collecting means to shore to operate said energy converting means ashore including an electric generator.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said kinetic energy is produced by suface waves, internal waves and tides of the ocean.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said force collecting means comprises a pipe means.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein said force collecting means comprises a pipe means and a piston and piston sleeve.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said energy converting means is selected from the group of(a) Bourdon tube, gear transmission and electrical generator and (b) Cartesian diver, gear transmission and electrical generator.
 6. The system of claim 1 werein said energy converting means comprises a Bourdon tube, gear transmission and electrical generator and said force collecting means whose sunken end does not extend beyond the surf zone so the kinetic energy of surf waves may be converted into electrical energy.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein said energy conversion means comprises a Bourdon tube, gear transmission and electrical generator and said force collecting means whose sunken end extends beyond the surf zone so the kinetic energy of ocean tides may be converted into electrical energy.
 8. The system of claim 1 wherein said force collecting means comprises a pipe whose sunken end opens into a piston sleeve standing vertically on the ocean bottom, said piston sleeve containing a piston with a buoyant cylinder fixedly attached to said piston, said piston fitted with an O-ring around its rim so that in operation passing waves cause said piston and cylinder to rise and fall, varying the potential energy in said force collecting means so said energy converting means are operated, producing electrical energy.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein said energy conversion means comprises a Bourdon tube, a gear transmission and an electric generator.
 10. The system of claim 8 wherein the top of said cylinder is near the ocean surface, said cylinder made to be buoyant near said ocean surface and wherein the vertical walls of said cylinder comprise spars extended horizontally therefrom, said spars rigidized by rigging anchored to the walls of said cylinder so said walls are rigidized.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein said energy conversion means comprises a Bourdon tube, a gear transmission and an electric generator.
 12. The system of claim 1 wherein said energy conversion means ashore comprises a Cartesian Diver within a container full of water, said Cartesian Diver having a portion of its walls made of flexible material and operably connected to said gear transmission mission and said electric generator so as potential energy within said force collection means is made to vary, said Cartesian Diver is made to rise and fall, operating said gear transmission and said electric generators
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the sunken end of said force collecting means ends in the surf zone.
 14. The system of claim 12 wherein the sunken end of said force collection means ends further from shore than the surf zone.
 15. The system of claim 8 wherein said energy conversion means ashore comprises a Cartesian Diver within a container full of water, said Cartesian Diver having a portion of its walls made of flexible material and operably connected to said gear transmission and said electric generator so as potential energy within said force collecting means is made to vary, said Cartesian Diver is made to rise and fall, operating said gear transmission and said electric generator.
 16. The system of claim 10 wherein said energy conversion means ashore comprises a Cartesian Diver within a container full of water, said Cartesian Diver having a portion of its walls made of flexible material and operable connected to said gear transmission and said electric generator so as potential energy within said force collection means is made to vary, said Cartesian Diver is made to rise and fall, operating said gear transmission and said electric generator.
 17. The system of claim 1 wherein the dimensions of the opening of the sunken end of said force collecting means are greater than the rest of said force collecting means so the force input of the invention may be increased.
 18. The system of claim 1 wherein where a portion of said force collecting means is located over 34 ft. above sea level then the working fluid in the portion of said force collecting means above sea level is air. 